Religion and Politics in the European Union: The Secular Canopy

A book presentation by François Foret, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Political Science.

Duration: 36:59

This book analyzes the place and influence of religion in European politics. François Foret presents the first data ever collected on the religious beliefs of European decision makers and what they do with these beliefs. Discussing popular assumptions such as the return of religion, aggressive European secularism, and religious lobbying, Foret offers objective data and non-normative conceptual frameworks to clarify some major issues in the contemporary political debate.

François Foret is professor of political science and Jean Monnet Chair at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He is also director of the Centre d’Etude de la Vie Politique (CEVIPOL) and researcher at the Institute for European Studies, ULB. His research interests include the legitimization of the European Union; interactions between culture, religion and politics; comparative politics, especially between Europe, the US and Japan. His recent publications include: Religion and politics in the European Union. The Secular Canopy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015; (ed.), Religion at the European Parliament and in European multi-level governance, London, Routledge, 2015; De l'Etat à l'Union Européenne, Bruxelles, Editions de l'Université de Bruxelles, 2015.

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